'We Accept The Challenge'

At an assembly Tuesday morning, students from  announced they are joining more than 20 other schools in the Philadelphia region to fight hunger by collecting non-perishable food items for Philabundance - a not-for-profit hunger relief organization that donated over 21 million pounds of food to the needy last year.

“We accept the challenge to help Philabundance,” Archbishop Wood High School Assistant Principal Mary McDonald told the student body. The school is trying to raise 25 tons, or 50,000 pounds, by March 2.

The call to action is part of Shire’s Second Grеаt Food Fight, which hopes to raise 100 tons of food between the schools for locals in need. The 100 tons of food could provide up to 200,000 meals, according a release. Last year, the program collected 64 tons of food from 18 high schools.

The program was brought to the attention of Wood administrators by senior Michele Healy, who wanted to help the community, McDonald said.

Students who donate large amounts of food will be eligible to win homework passes and even a free lunch, according to organizers at the school.

A prize of up to $10,000 will be awarded to the school that collects the most non-perishable food as measured in pounds. Smaller monetary prizes will be given to the school with the most pounds collected per student and the top school in each of the five participating counties, the Philabundance website states.

In recent months, Philabudance says, it has seen an increase in the number of people need their help.

“Wіth support frοm high school students асrοѕѕ thе region, thіѕ drive wіll hеlр υѕ provide much-needed food fοr pantries асrοѕѕ thе Delaware Valley tο hеlр thеm meet thе growing need,” Bill Clark, president аnd executive director οf Philabundance іn a press release.

“[The food drive] shows love for the community inside Wood and the community outside,” McDonald told the students.

A list of the schools participating:

Bucks County
Holy Ghost Preparatory School (Bensalem, PA)
Archbishop Wood Catholic High School (Warminster, PA)

Chester County
Conestoga High School (Berwin, PA)
Center for Arts and Technology – Pickering Campus (Phoenixville, PA)
Renaissance Academy (Phoenixville, PA)

Delaware County
Penncrest High School (Media, PA)
Marple Newtown High School (Newtown Square, PA)
Sun Valley High School (Aston, PA)

Montgomery County
Harriton High School (Rosemont, PA)
Upper Moreland High School (Willow Grove, PA)
Owen J. Roberts High School (Pottstown, PA)
Lower Merion High School (Ardmore, PA)
Spirit School (Wynnewood, PA)

Philadelphia County
Delaware Valley Charter High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Central High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Germantown High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, PA)
Math and Science Technology Community Charter School (MAST) (Philadelphia, PA)
Charles Carroll School (Philadelphia, PA)
Abraham Lincoln High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Lankenau High School (Philadelphia, PA)

--------

More information can be found at Philabundance.org/thegreatfoodfight.